MacSrs ‘R’ Us!

Today, MacSeniors is pleased to present the first in a series of profiles of clients determined to achieve the MAX from their Macs.

John and Madeleine are vivacious, enthusiastic, and very active retired educators living in Surrey. They became MacSeniors clients in January ‘06. We are extremely grateful to them for sharing their story about how they became involved with computers and how they continue to improve their proficiency with their Macs.

Living Proof!


Were we afraid to use a computer? You bet!!!
We had thought that computers were glorified typewriters.

Our introduction to a computer happened when we were asked to baby-sit our three-year-old granddaughter. Her parents, who were just leaving for work, said, “Oh, by the way, she can use the computer when we’re gone.”
We looked at each other and swallowed hard. This little girl had climbed up onto the computer chair and was selecting a disc to put into the computer.

We said, “Honey, what are you doing?”
“Oh,” she said, “we’re just waiting for it to boot up, Grandma.”
“Boot up?” We had never heard of this word.

Then she put in the disc and chose “Singing,” then said, “Oh no, I want to draw!” And she chose that. Later, when we were leaving to pick up her brother who was in kindergarten, we said, “Honey, turn off the computer now,” to which she replied, “Oh, Grandpa, you don’t turn off the computer!” Gulp.

Then we thought, “How come this little three-year-old can work a computer, and we with five university degrees between us can’t do it?

The secret was that the three-year-old had no fears and went right ahead.

So…we purchased a Mac computer because people said it was easier to learn. It turned out that Grandma was the fearless one.

Oh yes, mistakes were made, but we didn’t wreck the computer! Now, after a couple of years of trying to do various things, we are taking lessons on what we want to know! We have each “specialized” in different computer applications, such as using the scanner, doing the greeting card program, learning and playing bridge, making return address labels, emailing countless messages or letters; the list goes on.

We are “living proof” that becoming comfortable with a computer can be done—even by octogenarians!